the-compact
Design Review Board Wednesday, July 1, 2026 · 17 min

Bloomfield Township Design Review Board Meeting on July 1, 2026

Transcript

Click any timestamp to jump the video to that moment. Auto-transcribed; expect occasional errors on proper nouns.

  1. Come to order. This is the Bloomfield Township Design Review Board meeting, Wednesday, July 1st, 2026 at 2 p.m. I'm Treasurer Michael Shostak. Supervisor Mike McCready is out of the office today. Is there a motion to appoint a meeting chair? I move. We appoint Treasurer Michael Shostak to be the chair for this meeting. Support. Okay. We have support. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. So that passes. In honor of America's impending 250th birthday, why don't we all stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you very much. Okay. We'll begin with attendance. As we said, Supervisor McCready is not here. We've got Trustee Neil Barnett filling in. At this time, I'll open the floor for public comment. If there's anybody here to comment on any of the items on the agenda, if you are the person presenting the item, you will have your opportunity later. I see no public comment, so I'm going to close public comment and move on. Item 3, approval of the minutes of the June 17th meeting. Is there a motion? So move. Support. Motion and support. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Opposed? Opposed? Okay, that passes. Let's move on to new items, beginning with signs. The first item is 43239 Woodward Avenue. Good afternoon, board. So the first item on today's agenda is 43239 Woodward Avenue. This property is located in the B2 district, and the applicant, Little Jim, is looking to install a wall sign on the property. The proposed wall sign complies with the township sign ordinance. One wall sign is being proposed, which is permitted by the ordinance. The maximum permitted wall sign area is 60 square feet, and based on the street side facade, measuring 42 feet by 24 feet, the applicant will be proposing a sign under the 60 square foot requirements, being 22 square feet. There is no history of the Golden Crown, which was the previous occupants, but the nearby Bastion Gaming Center had a sign of 18 square feet for comparison.

  2. If there's anybody here to comment on any of the items on the agenda, if you are the person presenting the item, you will have your opportunity later. I see no public comment, so I'm going to close public comment and move on. Item 3, approval of the minutes of the June 17th meeting. Is there a motion? So move. Support. Motion and support. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Opposed? Opposed? Okay, that passes. Let's move on to new items, beginning with signs. The first item is 43239 Woodward Avenue. Good afternoon, board. So the first item on today's agenda is 43239 Woodward Avenue. This property is located in the B2 district, and the applicant, Little Jim, is looking to install a wall sign on the property. The proposed wall sign complies with the township sign ordinance. One wall sign is being proposed, which is permitted by the ordinance. The maximum permitted wall sign area is 60 square feet, and based on the street side facade, measuring 42 feet by 24 feet, the applicant will be proposing a sign under the 60 square foot requirements, being 22 square feet. There is no history of the Golden Crown, which was the previous occupants, but the nearby Bastion Gaming Center had a sign of 18 square feet for comparison. The sign will be located on the front facade. It will project eight inches from the building. It will not extend above the roof line, and it will be internally illuminated with LED lighting. There will be no exposed neon or flashing illumination. Staff has reviewed the proposal for compliance with the township sign regulations and finds that it's acceptable. It will be national because that is reasonable. Okay. Is there anybody here represent? any of the little Jim you have anything to add pretty much pretty much pretty much summed it all up right there signs within the ordinance simple all sign great okay any questions from the board I have a question learn there's a sign on the door to you guys considering that to be directional or a second sign so from the looks of it I did not catch that do you know it may be just like store hours identification of store hours as long as it's limited to the hours of operation and the name of the business it's acceptable so it has the little Jim same

  3. but the nearby Bastion Gaming Center had a sign of 18 square feet for comparison. The sign will be located on the front facade. It will project eight inches from the building. It will not extend above the roof line, and it will be internally illuminated with LED lighting. There will be no exposed neon or flashing illumination. Staff has reviewed the proposal for compliance with the township sign regulations and finds that it's acceptable. It will be national because that is reasonable. Okay. Is there anybody here represent? any of the little Jim you have anything to add pretty much pretty much pretty much summed it all up right there signs within the ordinance simple all sign great okay any questions from the board I have a question learn there's a sign on the door to you guys considering that to be directional or a second sign so from the looks of it I did not catch that do you know it may be just like store hours identification of store hours as long as it's limited to the hours of operation and the name of the business it's acceptable so it has the little Jim same sort of thing as the sign and then probably looks like the store hours just based on looking at this picture and that's PBO's assessment that is that's directional it's not a second sign right okay okay any other questions okay no that's it I'll make a motion that we approve as presented support okay motion to support all those in favor say aye aye aye any opposed okay that motion carries thanks and the sign is approved moving on to 2067 South Telegraph Road transit code border too support support but is you especially I you many 2067 South Telegraph Road, we're looking at a wall sign for Pure Hockey located in the B3 District along Telegraph Road north of Square Lake. The applicant is requesting one wall sign as part of their sign proposal. The proposed sign complies with the township's maximum wall sign area requirements. The street side facade measures approximately 2,050 square feet, allowing up to 123 square

  4. and the name of the business it's acceptable so it has the little Jim same sort of thing as the sign and then probably looks like the store hours just based on looking at this picture and that's PBO's assessment that is that's directional it's not a second sign right okay okay any other questions okay no that's it I'll make a motion that we approve as presented support okay motion to support all those in favor say aye aye aye any opposed okay that motion carries thanks and the sign is approved moving on to 2067 South Telegraph Road transit code border too support support but is you especially I you many 2067 South Telegraph Road, we're looking at a wall sign for Pure Hockey located in the B3 District along Telegraph Road north of Square Lake. The applicant is requesting one wall sign as part of their sign proposal. The proposed sign complies with the township's maximum wall sign area requirements. The street side facade measures approximately 2,050 square feet, allowing up to 123 square footage of sign. The applicant is proposing a sign that will be 100 square feet, which is 5% of the street side facade. For reference, the previous tenant, Hockey World, had an approved wall sign measuring 116 square feet. The proposed sign will be installed on the front facade, it will project 12 inches from the building, it will not extend above the roof line, and it will be internally illuminated with LED lighting. The only issue staff identified is this logo in the middle. The circular logo measures approximately 12.57 square feet, and the illustration represents approximately 12% of the sign area, which exceeds the limit for no more than 5%. So they will need to go to the Zoning Board of Appeals if the board finds it acceptable. Any questions? No, I mean, I find it, actually, I think it's attractive, you know, I like the logo and understand that it has to be approved by the CBA, though, because of the size. I don't have any questions.

  5. The street side facade measures approximately 2,050 square feet, allowing up to 123 square footage of sign. The applicant is proposing a sign that will be 100 square feet, which is 5% of the street side facade. For reference, the previous tenant, Hockey World, had an approved wall sign measuring 116 square feet. The proposed sign will be installed on the front facade, it will project 12 inches from the building, it will not extend above the roof line, and it will be internally illuminated with LED lighting. The only issue staff identified is this logo in the middle. The circular logo measures approximately 12.57 square feet, and the illustration represents approximately 12% of the sign area, which exceeds the limit for no more than 5%. So they will need to go to the Zoning Board of Appeals if the board finds it acceptable. Any questions? No, I mean, I find it, actually, I think it's attractive, you know, I like the logo and understand that it has to be approved by the CBA, though, because of the size. I don't have any questions. Do you also represent them? Yes, I do. Excellent. Anything you need to add? No, just that we're well under the allowable square footage of 120. The logo is slightly bigger than allowed at 6%. 5%. 5%. So if it needs to go in front of a CBA for a variance, then we'll have to do that, unless the board here can see fit that being under the square footage that the sign is now and adding that little bit of square footage to the logo size, then we could probably move forward without going to the CBA. Isn't that a nice idea? But I don't think that's within our authority. Agreed. Agreed. Okay. But I, since the sign overall is less than, I have no problem with the, you know, accepting the proposed sign as presented and affording to the ZBA. Support. Okay. One thing I'll add before I call for a vote is that if we looked at the 120 square feet, which is the max you'd be allowed, the 12.57 still exceeds 5% of that. So, but I trust that the ZBA will, you know, consider it appropriate.

  6. I don't have any questions. Do you also represent them? Yes, I do. Excellent. Anything you need to add? No, just that we're well under the allowable square footage of 120. The logo is slightly bigger than allowed at 6%. 5%. 5%. So if it needs to go in front of a CBA for a variance, then we'll have to do that, unless the board here can see fit that being under the square footage that the sign is now and adding that little bit of square footage to the logo size, then we could probably move forward without going to the CBA. Isn't that a nice idea? But I don't think that's within our authority. Agreed. Agreed. Okay. But I, since the sign overall is less than, I have no problem with the, you know, accepting the proposed sign as presented and affording to the ZBA. Support. Okay. One thing I'll add before I call for a vote is that if we looked at the 120 square feet, which is the max you'd be allowed, the 12.57 still exceeds 5% of that. So, but I trust that the ZBA will, you know, consider it appropriate. So we have a motion and we have support. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. That passes. And the sign is approved. Pending ZBA approval. Mocha House 2. The next item is. Thank you. Thank you. I'd like to comment though. Saying the Pledge of Allegiance was a lot easier than blowing out 250 candles. So everyone enjoy the day. Thank you, sir. You have a good holiday. Okay. Okay. Item number 32172 South Telegraph Road. So for this property, it's going to be the Mocha House located in the new Calabat building. I spoke to the applicant this morning. They weren't able to attend the meeting, but I'll proceed with the proposal. This property is located in the B1 Local Business District. And they are proposing a wall sign. The proposed wall sign complies with the township's maximum wall sign area requirements. The street side facade measures 1,092 square feet, allowing for a maximum wall sign not to exceed 65 square feet. The applicant is proposing a 39 square foot wall sign.

  7. So we have a motion and we have support. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. That passes. And the sign is approved. Pending ZBA approval. Mocha House 2. The next item is. Thank you. Thank you. I'd like to comment though. Saying the Pledge of Allegiance was a lot easier than blowing out 250 candles. So everyone enjoy the day. Thank you, sir. You have a good holiday. Okay. Okay. Item number 32172 South Telegraph Road. So for this property, it's going to be the Mocha House located in the new Calabat building. I spoke to the applicant this morning. They weren't able to attend the meeting, but I'll proceed with the proposal. This property is located in the B1 Local Business District. And they are proposing a wall sign. The proposed wall sign complies with the township's maximum wall sign area requirements. The street side facade measures 1,092 square feet, allowing for a maximum wall sign not to exceed 65 square feet. The applicant is proposing a 39 square foot wall sign. The sign will be located on the front facade. It will project six inches from the building. It will not extend above the roof line. And it will be internally illuminated with LED channel letters. The only issue staff identified is the illustration. in the middle. The ordinance limits the illustration to 5% of the total sign area. For a 39-square-foot sign, the maximum permitted is 1.95 square feet, and the applicant is proposing an illustration to be 3.9 square feet. So if the board would find the sign acceptable, it would have to go to the Zoning Board of Appeals for consideration. Can you describe what the illustration is? Looks like it says B-A-Y-T? With a cup and then some lettering above it? Yeah. Looking at it, it almost looks like an old coin, or I can't really describe the meaning of it. But there's no script from another language?

  8. The sign will be located on the front facade. It will project six inches from the building. It will not extend above the roof line. And it will be internally illuminated with LED channel letters. The only issue staff identified is the illustration. in the middle. The ordinance limits the illustration to 5% of the total sign area. For a 39-square-foot sign, the maximum permitted is 1.95 square feet, and the applicant is proposing an illustration to be 3.9 square feet. So if the board would find the sign acceptable, it would have to go to the Zoning Board of Appeals for consideration. Can you describe what the illustration is? Looks like it says B-A-Y-T? With a cup and then some lettering above it? Yeah. Looking at it, it almost looks like an old coin, or I can't really describe the meaning of it. But there's no script from another language? That's a good question. I'd have to confirm with the applicant. Okay. You know, I don't know what our policy has been in the past about using non-English letters. I don't know if that is their way or not, but I don't know either. Yes. Have we had a policy about that in the past? No. Meaning no policy, or no we haven't allowed it? It's never come out. Okay. And if it is a word, I don't know what the word is, which we should probably know. But ZVA, we could ask that. Yeah, we should make it conditional. Yeah. So? This is B-A-Y-T. I don't remember. Or it's B-A-Y-T. B-A-Y-T, it looks like. Maybe there's a T there, I guess. It's like a T, maybe? Sometimes, the way I look at it, sometimes I just see the coffee cup and sometimes I see the T. Yeah, yeah. I have it zoomed up on the T there. No, that's all. Oh, yeah. Yeah, it does. There is a T there. That doesn't look like writing to me up there, but I don't know. It doesn't. It looks more design-wise, but good to get it clarified. Yeah. Okay. So I'll look to this board on what action it wants to take.

  9. But there's no script from another language? That's a good question. I'd have to confirm with the applicant. Okay. You know, I don't know what our policy has been in the past about using non-English letters. I don't know if that is their way or not, but I don't know either. Yes. Have we had a policy about that in the past? No. Meaning no policy, or no we haven't allowed it? It's never come out. Okay. And if it is a word, I don't know what the word is, which we should probably know. But ZVA, we could ask that. Yeah, we should make it conditional. Yeah. So? This is B-A-Y-T. I don't remember. Or it's B-A-Y-T. B-A-Y-T, it looks like. Maybe there's a T there, I guess. It's like a T, maybe? Sometimes, the way I look at it, sometimes I just see the coffee cup and sometimes I see the T. Yeah, yeah. I have it zoomed up on the T there. No, that's all. Oh, yeah. Yeah, it does. There is a T there. That doesn't look like writing to me up there, but I don't know. It doesn't. It looks more design-wise, but good to get it clarified. Yeah. Okay. So I'll look to this board on what action it wants to take. Go ahead. I'd like a motion to accept the sign as presented and board to the ZVA for consideration with special attention to the logo and whether there's writing and a word and what it means. And if it's a different language. Yes. Okay. Support. Support. Okay. We have a motion in support. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. And any opposed? No. So let's move on. That is approved 3-0. We're moving on now to site improvements and the first- item is 4113 telegraph road so for the devon square condominium association located in the rm district right across the streets they are looking for to do a site improvements along their frontage specifically requesting approval to restore the natural buffer by replacing sections of the decorative brick wall lost during a windstorm earlier this year with some new shrubs and small trees specifically the proposal includes planting four standard maple

  10. So I'll look to this board on what action it wants to take. Go ahead. I'd like a motion to accept the sign as presented and board to the ZVA for consideration with special attention to the logo and whether there's writing and a word and what it means. And if it's a different language. Yes. Okay. Support. Support. Okay. We have a motion in support. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. And any opposed? No. So let's move on. That is approved 3-0. We're moving on now to site improvements and the first- item is 4113 telegraph road so for the devon square condominium association located in the rm district right across the streets they are looking for to do a site improvements along their frontage specifically requesting approval to restore the natural buffer by replacing sections of the decorative brick wall lost during a windstorm earlier this year with some new shrubs and small trees specifically the proposal includes planting four standard maple trees ranging between 8 to 12 feet in heights between the carports and the former wall alignment no changes are proposed for the buildings lighting signage parking or other site improvements with us today is john from the condominium association to elaborate john can you state your name uh john yergi and you're representing i represent the board for devon square okay um i can talk about yeah please uh so this is a uh sort of the eastern side or the western side of the property uh this wall you can see the white uh corner stones corner areas are still standing one has the actual sign of the condominium complex on it the dark green i tried to represent the current uh bushes and trees that are there they're much more mature than what we're proposing obviously uh and the orangish does do You can see sort of a shrub hedge, if you will, and four standard maples in orange that we would propose putting in there. Just to present a little more of a block for the residents to see telegraph and for anybody on telegraph looking in.

  11. with some new shrubs and small trees specifically the proposal includes planting four standard maple trees ranging between 8 to 12 feet in heights between the carports and the former wall alignment no changes are proposed for the buildings lighting signage parking or other site improvements with us today is john from the condominium association to elaborate john can you state your name uh john yergi and you're representing i represent the board for devon square okay um i can talk about yeah please uh so this is a uh sort of the eastern side or the western side of the property uh this wall you can see the white uh corner stones corner areas are still standing one has the actual sign of the condominium complex on it the dark green i tried to represent the current uh bushes and trees that are there they're much more mature than what we're proposing obviously uh and the orangish does do You can see sort of a shrub hedge, if you will, and four standard maples in orange that we would propose putting in there. Just to present a little more of a block for the residents to see telegraph and for anybody on telegraph looking in. It's a, from telegraph to the carport, it's probably a 12-foot dip. So you go down a hill. So these would be on that hill as it rises up to the side of the prior wall. Okay. Any questions from the board? That's a great idea. Looks good. Okay. An improvement. Any action? Make a motion. Just a quick question. This is something that we can approve here, right, Tom? Right. This doesn't go anywhere. It's all within. It's just a slight improvement for the DRB to consider. Make a motion we approve. We're not going to spell anything with the bushes, so we know where you're from. Okay. We have a motion to approve as submitted. We have support. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. That motion carries. And the site improvement is approved. Thanks for doing that. And do you hope to get started on it? Well, in my proposal, I said we'd do it in the next 12 months. I'm really hopeful we can plant before the fall or in the fall, and it takes. Sure. All right? Great. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay.

  12. Just to present a little more of a block for the residents to see telegraph and for anybody on telegraph looking in. It's a, from telegraph to the carport, it's probably a 12-foot dip. So you go down a hill. So these would be on that hill as it rises up to the side of the prior wall. Okay. Any questions from the board? That's a great idea. Looks good. Okay. An improvement. Any action? Make a motion. Just a quick question. This is something that we can approve here, right, Tom? Right. This doesn't go anywhere. It's all within. It's just a slight improvement for the DRB to consider. Make a motion we approve. We're not going to spell anything with the bushes, so we know where you're from. Okay. We have a motion to approve as submitted. We have support. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. That motion carries. And the site improvement is approved. Thanks for doing that. And do you hope to get started on it? Well, in my proposal, I said we'd do it in the next 12 months. I'm really hopeful we can plant before the fall or in the fall, and it takes. Sure. All right? Great. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay. Moving on, item 2, 2184 South Telegraph Road. So this is for the Piano Gallery along Telegraph Road near the Calabat Building. Due to the new building being constructed and a shared easement with their parking arrangements, they are proposing to put up a new entrance along the new parking lots to provide additional access. No changes are proposed to the building's use, lighting, signage, or other site improvements. It's simply this new entry door. Where's the other door? I don't see it in the picture. The other side. Okay. And facing south. Yeah. Oh, there it is. Facing west. Oh, no, no. Yeah, it's facing south. It's on the south side of the building? Yes. Okay. Does this need to go anywhere other than the design review board? Just the design review board. I have no problems or questions. No. Okay. Any action? We support as presented or approve as presented. All right. We have motion and support. All those in favor say aye.

  13. Moving on, item 2, 2184 South Telegraph Road. So this is for the Piano Gallery along Telegraph Road near the Calabat Building. Due to the new building being constructed and a shared easement with their parking arrangements, they are proposing to put up a new entrance along the new parking lots to provide additional access. No changes are proposed to the building's use, lighting, signage, or other site improvements. It's simply this new entry door. Where's the other door? I don't see it in the picture. The other side. Okay. And facing south. Yeah. Oh, there it is. Facing west. Oh, no, no. Yeah, it's facing south. It's on the south side of the building? Yes. Okay. Does this need to go anywhere other than the design review board? Just the design review board. I have no problems or questions. No. Okay. Any action? We support as presented or approve as presented. All right. We have motion and support. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. That carries. Three to nothing. That completes the site improvements. Moving on, general business. Is there any other business that needs to come before the DRB at this time? No, sir. Okay. Okay. Okay. Our next meeting date will be Wednesday, July 15th at 2 p.m. in this auditorium. I wish everybody a safe and happy Independence Day and happy birthday, America. Okay? Motion to adjourn? I will be adjourned. All right. We are adjourned. Okay.